Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit, Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What agency is offering this funding opportunity?

The opportunity is offered by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS).

What program is this opportunity associated with?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity under the Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (CESU) Program, specifically the Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU.

What is the Funding Opportunity Number?

The Funding Opportunity Number is G11AS20069.

What CFDA number is associated with this opportunity?

The opportunity is tied to CFDA 15.808 (U.S. Geological Survey Research and Data Collection).

What type of award is anticipated (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?

The project is set up as a cooperative agreement. This typically means USGS expects substantial involvement during the period of performance, such as coordinating on methods, interpreting findings, and/or reviewing deliverables.

What is the main purpose of the project?

The central purpose is to analyze and synthesize existing information about how the fire community finds, uses, and prioritizes fire science information, with a practical focus on making that information usable.

Is this opportunity meant to fund new field research and data collection?

No. The purpose is described as a focused research and synthesis effort that is not intended to generate brand-new field data. It is aimed at analyzing and making practical sense of existing information.

What are the two primary outcomes expected from the work?

The work targets two closely related outcomes: (1) analyzing existing data on how fire managers and researchers access and use fire science information, and (2) identifying the top ten fire science information needs for oak-dominated forests in the Midwest using existing data.

What does the analysis of "how fire science information is accessed and used" include?

Based on the description, this can include examining sources people rely on (such as peer-reviewed literature, agency guidance, online clearinghouses, workshops, personal networks, and decision-support tools), identifying barriers to use (such as time constraints, paywalls, relevance, trust, format, lack of synthesis, or difficulty translating research into operational decisions), and determining which communication channels are most effective.

What does "top ten fire science information needs" mean in this announcement?

It refers to producing a prioritized list of the most important knowledge gaps or decision-support needs that would most improve prescribed fire planning, wildfire response, and post-fire management in oak-dominated forest systems in the Midwest.

What ecosystem or forest type is the information-needs assessment focused on?

The needs assessment is specifically focused on oak-dominated forests in the Midwest.

Does the project require a survey component?

Yes. The announcement notes that the database should include a survey component covering prescribed fire and wildfire managers and researchers from a defined set of states.

Which states must be included in the survey component?

The survey component should cover prescribed fire and wildfire managers and researchers from Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas.

Who are the intended survey audiences?

The survey is intended to include both operational practitioners (prescribed fire and wildfire managers) and the research community (researchers), reflecting both sides of the science-to-practice pipeline.

Why does the opportunity emphasize including both managers and researchers?

The stated intent is to capture both sides of the science-to-practice pipeline: what researchers think is available and useful, and what managers actually need and can apply under real constraints.

What is the estimated total funding amount?

The estimated total funding amount is $3,000.

Is cost sharing or matching required?

No. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed.

How many awards were expected under this opportunity?

Only one award was expected.

Why are the award ceiling and floor listed as $0?

The announcement indicates the award ceiling and floor are both listed as $0, which is commonly a Grants.gov formatting quirk for announcements where the actual funding level is described elsewhere. In this case, the estimated total funding amount of $3,000 is the main funding indicator provided.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligibility is restricted to partners within the Great Lakes Northern Forest CESU network. Applicants generally must be officially recognized participating partners of that specific CESU unit to be eligible under this announcement.

What is a CESU in the context of this opportunity?

CESUs are formal partnerships intended to streamline and strengthen collaboration among federal agencies, universities, tribes, NGOs, and other organizations on research, technical assistance, and education priorities.

Where are applicants directed to find full opportunity materials and instructions?

Applicants are directed to Grants.gov for the full opportunity materials and instructions.

What were the key dates for this funding opportunity?

The posted and creation date were June 27, 2011. The application closing date was July 11, 2011. The archive date was September 27, 2011.

Who is the primary federal contact for assistance?

The primary federal contact is Faith Graves at USGS. Phone: 703-648-7356. Email: fgraves@usgs.gov.

What kind of involvement should applicants expect from USGS during the project?

Because this is a cooperative agreement, USGS typically expects substantial involvement during performance, such as coordination on methods, interpretation of findings, and review of deliverables, rather than a hands-off award.

What is the practical emphasis of the deliverables described?

The description suggests an applied emphasis: turning existing information into practical, prioritized fire science information needs and usable synthesis for decision-making in oak-dominated Midwest forests.